Work as Worship.

Regardless of occupation or age (even students like me), we must all face work challenges. Whether it be that exam paper that's due by midnight or a conference meeting we're getting nervous about or even household duties, we all have to deal with work. But why do we even have work (besides the fact that it is required to live and learn)? I think in order to grow in the Lord we must first learn responsibility for the little 'chores' in life. We must start from the beginning in order to fulfill our greater purpose- the purpose God is preparing us for! So really, when we work we are in training- even by doing dishes and homework we learn time management, thinking skills, and organization. If this were to become an equation it would logically look something like this:
We are in the Lord's service, training for a greater purpose.
Work is something we *must* do on a daily basis.
Therefore we derive that work is a part of the Lord's service, training us for a greater purpose!

When we work, regardless of what we are doing, as long as we do it for the glory and benefit of God and do our best at it, work is simply another form of worship. "Study to show thyself approved unto God..."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=m06DYIAeCtU


Worship:

"reverent honor and homage paid to God or a sacred personage, or to any object regarded as sacred." (dictionary.com)

 

Work is honoring or paying homage to  an object that we hold in a sacred position. What 'work' holds your esteem? Is it God?  For really, if an object  is being held in a sacred place then we are essentially 'worshiping' it! 

 

Thus if: 

Work is another form of worship.

And work takes a higher place in our life than God.

Who are we really worshiping? 

 

 

Just some thoughts... 

I just typed /leave

What's in a word? A pretty phrase, a loving sentence, or a scorching retort, and a hateful saying?  Do you mean what you say or do you say what you mean or do you say what you mean when you say it and then later regret it? Have you ever left an imprint on someones heart with your words or actions? They say sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me, they also say that actions speak louder than words, however, I believe that words are a very powerful tool, they can either build someone up or break them to their very core. Sticks and stones are a good tool to hurt someone, but that is why armor was built. What armor is there against words? Teasing is one thing, but aiming those remarks in a way that it is at the other persons expense is another entirely.


God says to put on His whole armor so that you can withstand the enemy. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." (Ephesians 6:12)  But what of those who are flesh and blood? How can we turn the other cheek, love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that use us? How? How can we possibly say something sweet when we are made fun of, mocked, hurt so very deeply. Maybe by someone who we are trying to share our faith with, by a relative, teacher, acquaintance? But what about someone with whom you are friends with? Someone who knows how to hurt you? Can we possibly turn the other cheek to them as well? Jesus did. There is more than one way to be kind to those who hurt us. Instead of hurting back (though it would of course serve them right, it would only make us one of them, give them another reason to want to hurt us) simply walk away. When we've cooled down a bit, pray for them (I've never once had God not answer a prayer) "Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord, I will repay"  *I*= God...our heavenly father..."it is He that hath made us and not we ourselves..." If he made us and everything else under and beyond the sun, and if He promises to take care of even the sparrow then why wouldn't He also take care of us. There is no explaining the power of God and I assure you that He is there for you. Let Him take revenge. When we take power into our own hands we end up playing God, deciding justice, and either a) making a fool of ourselves in our hurt or b) by getting a good winger in we disturb the testimony that God is working on...perhaps through us. If you are being an example of Christ, then what they are wanting to bring down is God, not you...for though humans are what tease and mock and bully, Satan is the one that is using them.

If Satan in someone is trying to get to Christ in you, then that only proves that this isn't our battle...God will defend us even if he never shows us on this earth that He did...I know He always does. If we let our own flesh get in the way though we could make it a lot more difficult (who knows if the person is even saved or not, if not then perhaps God will allow us to show them the gospel...which would really heap coals of fire on them :P) It might be impossible to turn the other cheek sometimes...but we can always get away from them. When you leave, what else can they do? (and if they do, pls...tell an adult)

Blaming Game

I love dryer sheets, they hold up so well but are so lacy and delicate, however, one tug and they have come unraveled. We are a lot like that. We hold up fine but one tug and we are walking around trying to find who tugged us so we can blame someone for our mess. I think I have been blaming God for mine...

We feel like we have to blame someone in order to put anger over the hurt we feel inside, to cover the open wound, and when we don't want to blame the person who did or have no one to blame, we often blame God or even ourselves. This doesn't fix the problem though, does it? We then become so consumed with our own emotions that we cannot move forward.

Lately my life has felt like it is unraveling at it's core: me. I literally feel myself breaking into pieces and shattering on the floor dragging behind me a untold, unseen, unspoken  burden that no man could carry. Inside the only thing that can block out the constant tears is blaming something to distract from my hurt. So I sub-consciously blamed God. But really, how did that of all things help me?

How can we heal if we are blaming something or someone? How can we live if we are relying on ourselves to heal us instead of God? Let me re-phrase that: When we blame someone for what is going wrong in our life, instead of feeling what we are feeling then giving it to God, we focus on the negative which only brings us down.

This isn't the only thing that will keep us from healing though...

 For the past two years I have been ill...I hate it...I'm ready for my life to go on...I'm tired of faking it and saying "great" when ppl ask me how I am. But I alone cannot change it. In fact, my doctor and parents can't even change it :P
God can, but for some reason I haven't healed...could it be for a purpose? Two days ago I realized that things were changing, I cried one last time, but felt different afterwards...I stopped blaming and started thinking of how I could change me. Since then I have seen certain things in my life start building back to where they should be and even better.

No, I am not yet well, no, things will never be as they were or could have been...but with God (not fighting Him) I feel like things are going to be as they were supposed to be...even if I won't graduate at 17, and even if I have given up S&D for good, and even if ...ya get the point...my life has changed oh so much, but I am finally realizing that those changes needed to happen to make me the person I am on my way to being...the person God wanted me to be.

No matter what is going wrong in your life or how much you feel God or even yourself is to blame...remember that all things happen for a purpose, simply be open to seeing that purpose when God is ready to reveal it.

...as I leave this keyboard I go to a new life, a good life, where I do not have to carry my burdens alone and everything will work out for the better in the long run...join me?

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.
~Romans 8:28

NOTE:  This is a lot, I've kinda poured out my heart...pls be courteous of this fact.